The Osceola times., 1887-09-24
BURGLARS In A STORE.
Stirring Incident Of Life In an In.
diana Town.
A Desperate Gang Partially Execute a
scheme of Robbery, but n spring-Gun
and Clerks Nerve Wipe Them Out.

In the fall of 1866 was employed as
clerk in a general store at a cross
roads in Southern Indiana. The store,
a church and blacksmith shop, with
residences, made up the buildings, and
the families of the merchant and black
smith were the only residents. The
country about was quickly settled up
on, however, and trade was ALWAYS
good. Before the merchant engaged
he announced that | would have to
sleep in the store nights, and that un-
less had pluck enough to defend the
place against maraudcrs he did not
want me at any price. He showed me
shot gun. 4 revolver and spring.
gun, which were used, or on hand 10
be used to defend the place. and the
windows were protected with stout
blinds and the doors by double locks.
The close of the war had driftcd bad
population into Indiana. The high
ways were full of tramps, and there
were hundreds Of men who had deter
mined to MAKE living by some other
means than labor. Several attempts
had been made to rob the store,
and it had come to that pass that
no clerk wanted TO sleep there
alone. The merchant seemed satisfied
with the answers gave him, and on a
certain Monday morning | went to
work. That same night store about
four miles off was broken into and
robbed and the clerk seriously wound
sd. Two nights later three borses were
stolen in our neighborhood. At the
end of the week farmer who was on
his way from our store was robbed on
the highway. If had not been light
sleeper from habit these occurrences
would dhave tended toprevent too lengthy
dream. as lay in my little bedroom at
the front Of the second story. The re-
vol,cr was always placed under my
pillow and the shotgun stood within
reach. The spring-gun was set about
midway Of the floor 1t was double
barreled shotgun, each barrel contain
ing big charge of buck-shot, and the
man who kicked the string and dis
charged the weapon would never know
what hurt him. II did not seem pos
sible that any one could break into the
store without arousing me. There was
no door to my room. and after the peo-
pie in the neighborhood had gone TO
bed could hear the slightest noise in
the store. had looked the place over
Cor weak spot and had failed TO find
it, but my own confidence came near
proving my destruction. should
have told you, in describing the store.
that just over the spot where we set
the spring-gun was an opening through
which we hois!ed and lowered such
goods ~ were stored for time on the
second floor. When not in use this
spening was covered BY Il trap door. ~
Toward evening on the tenth day of
my clerksbip, hoisted up loi of pals
and tubs, and had just finished when
trade became so brisk that was called
10 wait on customers. Later on ! saw
that ! had left tbe trap-door open, and
said to myself that would let il go,
until went To bed. The store had the
only burglar-proof safe for miles
around, aud il was customary for the
farmer who had one hundred dollars
or so, to leave it with us. He received
an envelope in which to inclose it, and
he could take out and put in as he
liked. On this evening four or five
farmers came in to deposit and, as !
afterwdrd, figured up. we had about
$1,000 in the safe.
There were two strange faces in The
crowd that evening. One belonged to
roughly-dressed. evil-eyed man, who
announced himself TO be drover, and
the other professional tramp. gave
the latter piecei Of tobacco and some
crackers and cheese, and he soon went
away, and we were so busy upto nine
O'clock that1I had ndi give the droyer
much attention. Whom VIC came to Shut
up the store be had gone from my mind
altogether. We. counted up the cash,
made some charges in the day-book,
and il was about ten O'Clock when the
merchant left. ] was tired out and
took candle and made the circuit of
'he store, set the spring-gun. and went
TO the trap door as went to my room,
but did not see it. 1t wisa rather
chilly night in October and we had no
fires yet, and as | got under the
blankets the warmth was SO grateful
That | soon fell asleep. TWAS the first
night that l had gone 10 bed without
thinking ofrobbers and wondering how
should act in case any came in. ]
did not know when fell asleep. l
suddenly found myself half-upright in
bed, and there was an echo in the store
as II the fall Of something had aroused
me. 1t was one o'clock. and ] had
been asleep almost three hours. Lean
Ing on my elbow. strained my ears
= catch tbs lightess sound, and after